First Analysis of Jupiter in Gamma Rays and a New Search for Dark Matter

Abstract

We present the first dedicated $\gamma$-ray analysis of Jupiter, using 12 years of data from the Fermi Telescope. We find no robust evidence of $\gamma$-ray emission, and set upper limits of $\sim10^{-9}~$GeV cm$^{-2}\,$s$^{-1}$ on the Jovian $\gamma$-ray flux. We point out that Jupiter is an advantageous dark matter (DM) target due to its large surface area (compared to other solar system planets), and cool core temperature (compared to the Sun). These properties allow Jupiter to both capture and retain lighter DM, providing a complementary probe of sub-GeV DM. We therefore identify and perform a new search for DM-sourced $\gamma$-rays in Jupiter, where DM annihilates to long-lived particles, which can escape the Jovian surface and decay into $\gamma$-rays. We consequently constrain DM-proton scattering cross-sections as low as about $10^{-40}~$cm$^2$, showing Jupiter is up to ten orders of magnitude more sensitive than direct detection. This sensitivity is reached under the assumption that the mediator decay length is sufficient to escape Jupiter, and the equilibrium between DM capture and annihilation; sensitivities can be lower depending on the DM model. Our work motivates follow-up studies with upcoming MeV telescopes such as AMEGO and e-ASTROGAM.